Pressure equalizing hermetically sealing boot



PRESSURE EQUALIZING HERMETICALLY SEALING BOOT Filed May 20, 1957 United States Patent O PRESSURE EQUALIZING HERMETICALLY SEALING BOOT Milton Morse, Bronx, N. Y.

Application May 20, 1957, Serial No. 660,236

3 Claims. (Cl. 20D-168) This invention relates generally to the ield of hermetic sealing devices adapted to be threadedly engaged with exposed parts of electronic and electrical equipment to protect the same from the deleterious effects of moisture, and more particularly to an improved form of such device adapted to equalize atmospheric pressure on either side of the hermetic seal at desired times.

Where intercommunication systems are employed at other than normal atmospheric pressures, such as in an aircraft or a submarine, where the communication system is sealed at normal atmospheric pressure, the outside atmosphere differing substantially from that within the sealed device often prevents effective operation. This is particularly true in the case of earphone headsets, microphones, and the like. The need for protecting such devices against the deleterious effect of moisture, is none the less present, and it is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a sealing boot or similar device in which means is incorporated for venting the equipment to the outside or ambient atmosphere to equalize the pressure at the time of use.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a venting sealing boot of the type described in which the venting action is performed automatically at the time the communications equipment is used.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of structure of the class described in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved venting sealing device having a complete absence of moving metallic parts, the venting action being accomplished solely by the flexion of resilient non-metallic parts.

A feature of the invention lies in the ease with which the device may be installed or removed from operative connection with electronic equipment.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent in the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

n the drawing, to which reference will be vmade in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

- Figure l is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view as seen from plane 2 2 on Figure l.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 3 3 on Figure l.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan as seen from the plane 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the boot element which comprises a part of the embodiment.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 6 6 on Figure 5.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly a resilient boot element 11 and a bracket element 12 (see Fig. 8).

The boot element 11 includes a hollow planar member i4 and a hollow rectangular or dome member 15. The

planar member 14 is bounded by a first rounded edge 16, a second rounded edge 17, an outer rectilinear edge 18, a second outer rectilinear edge 19, an upper surface 29, and a lower surface 21 defining a lower opening 22. A lower rectangularly shaped groove 23 extends into the body of the planar member 14, and is bounded by side surfaces 24 and 25, as well as end surfaces 26 and 27.

The rectangular member 16 includes first and second side Walls 30 and 31, first and second end walls 32 and 33 and a top wall 34, the walls 30 34 defining a cavity 35 which is bounded by inner side surfaces 36 and 37, inner end surfaces 38 and 39 and an inner upper surface 40. The upper surface 40 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending ribs 41 and 42, best seen on Fig. 6 of the drawing, while the end walls 32 and 33 are provided with bores 43 and 44, respectively, the bores extending through channel forming portions 45 which serve to extend the lengths of the bores 43 and 44 to provide an effective seal, as

will more fully appear.

The entire boot element 11 is preferably formed as a single molding of suitable thermo-plastic or thermosetting synthetic resins, although if necessary, gum rubber has been found to be suitable in those conditions of use which do not expose the same to the effects of oils and/or greases. The element 11 is secured over an opening in a panel (not shown) so as to cover an actuating switch (also not shown) in a manner well known in the art. For this purpose, screw hole openings 46 and 47 are provided in the planar member 14, which are so positioned as to be free of communication with the cavity 35.

The bracket element 12 is of metallic construction, and includes a top member 50, and first and second end members 51 and 52, respectively, which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the top member. Each of the end members 51 52 is provided with a stud 53 engageable within the bores 43 and 44. The end members 51 and 52 are similar, each having an inner surface 58, an outer surface 59 and a hole 60 providing means for engagement of the stud 53. The studs 53 are also similar, each including a head portion 62, a shaft portion 63 and a staked portion 64 which engages the sides of the holes 60 in the end members 51 and 52.

rlhe device is assembled as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, wherein the bracket element 12 is positioned within the cavity 35 such that the upper surface of the top member contacts the surface 40 of the top wall 34, and the studs 53 engage the bores 43 and 44 such that the head portion 62 lies outwardly of the bores, and the shaft portion 63 completely fills the same. To operate the switch disposed within the cavity 35, pressure is exerted upon the top wall 34 which is transmitted to the switch. As the position of the top wall 34 is moved with respect to the planar member 14, the downward movement of the studs 53 distorts the cross sectional shape of the bores 43 and 44 to permit momentary leakage, allowing equalization of atmospheric pressure differential on either 3 side-of the device. Upon relaxation ofthe pressure upon the upper wall 34, the resilient boot element returns to its original shape, and the bores 43 and 44 are completely sealed.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel improvements in pressure equalizing hermetically sealing boots, in which simple means has been provided for equalizing atmospheric pressure differentials existing on either side of the same at periodic and desired intervals. The pressure differential is equalized at the precise time the electrical equipment with which the device associated is put into use, thus assuring proper performance. The device is secured to the electrical equipment by means of screws c1 similar devices thus permitting the same to be replaced by those possessed of only ordinary skill, and using only ordinary tools. the use of proper materials, the device is adapted to withstand substantial abuse without effecting its useful lite.

I wish it to be understood that l do not desire to be limited to the exact details of structure shown and described, for obvious modications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

l. A venting sealing device for use in enclosing an opening in a planar surface comprising: a resilient boot element and a bracket element; said boot element including a hollow planar member having an opening therein, and a hollow dome member formed integrally with said planar member, the hollow portion of which communicates with said opening; said dome member including a wall, the plane of which is disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of said opening and having a bore disposed therein, the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of said wall; said bracket element being disposed Within said dome member and including a stud engaged within said bore to substantially seal the same during such period as the dome member is in relatively undistorted condition, movement of said bracket in a direction towards said opening serving to distort the shape of said bore and allow the equalization of an atmospheric pressure diterential on either side of said bore.

2, A venting sealing device for use in enclosing an opening in a planar surface comprising: a resilient boot element and a bracket element; said boot element including Ia 'hollow `planar member having an opening therein, and a hollow dome member formed integrally with said planar member, the hollow portion of which communicates with said opening; said dome member including a pair of walls in spaced relation, the planes of which are disposed substantially perpendicular to thc plane of said opening, each wall having a bore disposed therein, the axis `of which is perpendicular to the plane of the respective Wall; said bracket member being disposed within said dome member and between said walls and including a pair 'of studs each engaged within an abovementioned bore to substantially seal the same during such period as the dome member is in relatively undistorted condition, lmovement of said bracket element in a direction toward said opening serving to distort the shape ot said bore and allow equalization of an atmospheric pressure differential on either side of said bore.

3. A venting sealing device for use in enclosing an opening in a planar surface comprising: a resilient boot element and a bracket element; said boot element including a hollow planar member having an opening therein, and a hollow rectangularly shaped dome member formed integrally with said planar member, the hollow portion of which communicates with said Opening; said rectangularly shaped dome member including a pair of walls in spaced relation, the planes of which are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of said opening, each wall having a bore disposed therein, the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the respective wall; said bracket member being disposed within said rectangularly shaped dome member and between said walls and including a pair of studs each engaged within an abovementioned bore to substantially seal the same during such period as the rectangularly shaped dome member is in relatively u'ndistorted condition, movement References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Horning Feb. 29, 1944 Karsch Feb. 5, 1952 

